Snorkeling fin upgrade question...

[cowin8579]

Hello, my name is Brian. I won't be posting much because of an Iraq deployment Sept 19th. After snuba diving in Mexico, I took up snorkeling in a big way on my return to any clear water (mining lakes) in Pennsylvania where I live. I don't know very much about gear so if you could please give me advice, I would appreciate it.

I bought a basic snorkeling gear set at joediver.com, and have been doing well with extended free dives and hitting reasonable depth depending on turbidity. My water weight is quite heavy, and I'm able to decend rapidly. I only have a few weeks of glory before a year and a half doing combat missions, and I'll be going to Florida in a few weeks to do some free diving.

I'm in good shape, and am unsure what would be a reasonable upgrade for free diving. If you tell me to choose a free diving fin, I won't know what you are refering to per say.

I have read many posts on this board, and have the understanding that full foot fins are not as stiff as open heel fins. There are the fins I am using with that set I bought. Dacor/Mares Swim Fin -JoeDiver's Best all-purpose Name Brand Swim Fin: at JoeDiverAmerica.com

The snorkel/mask work well enough. What do you recommend for an upgrade that would allow me to really move down there during free dives but not extremely fatigue me for this application?

Something like a Aeris Velocity? full foot or open heel?

Thank you very much for your time and input. I really like this website.

 

[holdingmybreath]

fins don't really limit you at the shallower depths of freediving... the mask does. If you purchased some big honkin' mask.. that's going to limit you before the fins do.. just check out the no-fins records. If you don't have one now, try out a low volume mask like the cressi minima, and if you think you still need fins, check out the cressi gara fins.. either in 2000 or 3000 models.. or something similar. Stiff fin or more flexible, might be a personal preference depending on what you have for legs and how much time you're in the water.

 

[covediver]

Thank you for your service.

I do a lot of fin swimming and teach it. I really like the Mares Avanti TRE as a good all around fin.

 

[perdidochas]

Hello, my name is Brian. I won't be posting much because of an Iraq deployment Sept 19th. After snuba diving in Mexico, I took up snorkeling in a big way on my return to any clear water (mining lakes) in Pennsylvania where I live. I don't know very much about gear so if you could please give me advice, I would appreciate it.

I bought a basic snorkeling gear set at joediver.com, and have been doing well with extended free dives and hitting reasonable depth depending on turbidity. My water weight is quite heavy, and I'm able to decend rapidly. I only have a few weeks of glory before a year and a half doing combat missions, and I'll be going to Florida in a few weeks to do some free diving.

I'm in good shape, and am unsure what would be a reasonable upgrade for free diving. If you tell me to choose a free diving fin, I won't know what you are refering to per say.

I have read many posts on this board, and have the understanding that full foot fins are not as stiff as open heel fins. There are the fins I am using with that set I bought. Dacor/Mares Swim Fin -JoeDiver's Best all-purpose Name Brand Swim Fin: at JoeDiverAmerica.com

The snorkel/mask work well enough. What do you recommend for an upgrade that would allow me to really move down there during free dives but not extremely fatigue me for this application?

Something like a Aeris Velocity? full foot or open heel?

Thank you very much for your time and input. I really like this website.

I'd go to FL and buy freediving fins there. Talk to the shops. Definitely go full foot, they are more efficient if you don't need booties.

 

[cmburch]

Some good freedive fins are Picasso Black Teams.

Bodega Bay Pro Dive

Florida Freedivers should also have them.

http://www.flfreedivers.com/

 

[CapnDan]

Snorkeling fins are just fine for shallow (e.g. 50' or so) non-competitive freediving. In some ways they're better, as they provide far greater underwater maneuverability than long, stiff freediving fins. They also make it much easier to swim out to your dive spot from shore.

If you're just having fun and are not diving to great depths, attempting to set personal bests or taking formal freediving lessons then I would just go with a comfortable, efficient pair of multipurpose snorkeling fins. I use the Oceanic Caribe, which is similar in design to the Aeris Velocity, and I think they're great.

You mentioned that you want to "really move down there". No matter which fins you're wearing this will burn much more oxygen and will significantly cut into your underwater time. Most non-competitive freedivers try to move slowly and efficiently underwater in order to extend their down time. The fish and turtles are also much more relaxed around slow-moving divers and will let you get much closer.

 

[David Wilson]

A few years ago, I visited La Jolla Cove, a popular snorkelling spot in Southern California. I was struck by the variety of fins represented there. There were open-heel bodyboarding-type fins with fixed straps, open-heel scuba-type fins with adjustable straps, full-foot freediving-type fins with extended blades, all-rubber full-foot swimtraining-type fins and full-foot composite plastic-bladed fins. Everybody was snorkelling happily with their particular choice of fins.

The beauty of snorkelling is the variety of choice available when it comes to fins. Freedivers will often argue that only expensive long-bladed carbonfibre-reinforced fins will do because that's what they use when they freedive. Scuba divers will insist on open-heel fins because that's what they put on when they scuba-dive. These may make sensible choices for freedivers and scuba-divers who are part-time snorkellers. Those of us who regard snorkelling as a wonderful activity in its own right, not a mere precursor to "more fulfilling" pursuits such as freediving or scuba diving don't have to narrow our choices to a particular fin design.

A comfortable fit is the primary criterion when selecting fins for snorkelling. This means finding fins that accommodate feet not only lengthwise but also widthwise. If socks or booties are to be worn with fins when snorkelling (socks and booties can be worn with full-foot fins), they should be worn when trying on fins for size at the point of purchase. Too big and fins will rub, causing blisters, or fall off. Too tight and they will generate cramps. If possible, try them out for fit in the water first. The sizing test will rule many brands out of the equation.

You can then make a selection from the more limited range of fins that fit your feet. Fins are worn not just for power but also for endurance and manoeuvrability. Very few fins combine all three. There is also the question of your personal physique, preferred swimming style and whatever snorkelling activity you are planning to do. When one person recommends a "perfect fin", that fin will be perfect for them, not for you. You have to do your own voyage of discovery when seeking the perfect fin, experimenting with what's on offer. Over forty years of snorkelling I've discovered several fins that represent the perfect solution for me, but I would hesitate to recommend them to others whose criteria are likely to be different.

 

[cowin8579]

Thank you all very much for your in depth informative posts. There is a dive shop that I'm going to drive to today where I will attempt to find a wise choice of fin upgrade. My current fins and shorter and very light, which resists fatigue. The man who owns the above scuba shop isn't that into snorkeling, but I'm sure he will be able to help me with fins.
I will be checking out the fins many of you suggested, and try them out. I'm not too picky, but I think it would be wise to have more advanced fins when entering areas that have currents.

Thank you again for your time and posting. I'm excited about the next few weeks.

 

[LunkerBuster]

today is your deployment date..good luck and god bless (if you are into that sort of thing) come back safe for more diving

 

[cowin8579]

Thank you very much. Our flight is now on the 24th, so we train 7am to 5:30pm every day with everything packed at the Armory. It was great to get a few evenings home.

To give an update, I wanted to really live it up before I left. I completed almost snorkeling trips/free dives in the last month. I've been out there rain or shine, good vis and 3 feet or less of vis. I got my apnea to about 2:30.

I planned a trip to Florida to snorkel/free dive, but the only available fin in my size (12-13) was the Aeris Velocity. I also took this time to upgrade my snorkel to the Tusa Platina. I stopped at many dive shops, and everyone seems to carry scubapro fins. I used several models, and I like them, but they aren't what I'm looking for. I bought a 3mm wetsuit, and dove with manatees, a dolphin, and stripped bass at several locations. It was incredible.

I'm already excited about returning to the water, and maybe even moving to Florida eventually. I was unable to try any free diving fins, but I believe this what I'm looking for. I often go 300+ yards in river systems and large lakes, and the Velocity isn't enough fin to get you across those distances without a super fast kick rate. If they added another inch of hard plastic to each side of the fin, I would buy a pair of those too.

When I was 25-30 feet deep, I was working super hard against a spring's current trying to stay down there in the right spot.

I would like to try:

Matrix type Fiberglass fins
The larger full foot medium blade Mares (they only make small size foot pocket)
Black teams (to see if they are too stiff)
Cressi pro or Cressi 2000

Take care, and I look forward to coming back!